Puzzle-game device.



mnmmmk PATBNTED 001" e, 1903.

I. w. HUGHES.

PEEZZLB GAME DEVICE, APPLIGATIOH FILED LQR. 2.1903},

110 MODEH.

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UNITED STATES Patented October 6, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. HUGHES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOTHOMAS L. HILL, OF SAN FRANCISCOQOALIFORNIA.

PUZZLE-GAME DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 740,980, dated October6, 1903.

Application filed March 2, 1903. Serial No.- 145f721. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. HUGHES, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPuzzle-Game Devices; and I hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an amusement puzzle game of a novel nature,consisting of two sets of interrupted runways each in the form of a mazeof circular shape disposed in two planes set at a right angle to eachother and communicating at a right angle at the intersection between thetwo planes and rolling balls therein.

The object of the game is to assemble the balls, preferably three innumber, in the center compartment of one of the runways, performed bymanipulating these and the device as a whole so the balls by theirgravity will move through certain courses not describable here untilthey are all assembled as above stated.

Oonstructively the device consists of two sets of interrupted channelsor runways set normally to each other inclosed by encircling bands andtranslucent coverings on all sides, as shown in the drawings herewith,forming a part of this specification.

Figure I represents one side of the puzzle device; Fig. II, a similarview at an angle of ninety degrees from Fig. I; Fig. III, a plan view ofFigs. Iand II, partially in section, on the line din Fig. I, showing thetransparent covering I; and Fig. IV, aview oblique to the faces on theline a in Fig. III.

The chambers or runways l are of reetangu lar section, as shown in Fig.III, and have interrupting-bars 2, as respectively indicated 'in Figs. Iand II, and intersect each other in the two planes, as shown in Fig. IV.

The outercylindrical part of frame 3 is'preferably made integral withthe runways 1 and is formed of any suitable material that can be moldedor pressed into form in a plastic state. The translucent covering-platesaare by preference made of some flexible material,

such as celluloid or mica, and are held by shallow rims 5, that arecrimped over the edges, or may be held on the faces 6 by a suitablecement.

I do not confine myself toa particular kind of material or to a specialmanner of constructing the device, asthese can be varied in many ways,as will be understood.

The balls 7 are made of metal or any other suitable material .that hassome weight to cause them to roll with slight inclination from a levelplane. By proper manipulation of the device the balls 7 can be assembledin'the center compartment 8, which has no inlet in the same plane, asshown in Fig. I. This requires dexterous and patient effort and issujficiently difficult to form an interesting amusement.

Having thus described the nature and 0bj ects of my invention,whatIclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a puzzle-game device, two sets or series of interrupted circularchannels or runways, joined normally one to the other and.

communicating in both planes, balls therein that by their gravity andposition of the device may traverse the runways i n either plane, or inany course as the position of the device may determine, substantially asspecified.

2. In a puzzle-game device, a series of interrupted circular runways setnormal to each other, communicating and inclosed betweentwo subscribingWitnesses.

JOHN w; HUGHES.

